This quote from the Eames Commission
about parallel episcopal jurisdiction came to mind on receiving the latest
Reform newsletter from the pen of chairman Philip Hacking commenting on the
Council's statement about the future intentions of the networking group.

The fuss the media created about
Reform's intention actually to do something about alternative episcopal
oversight instead of talking about it shows how distorted the Church's thinking
has become, as if bishops were the be-all and end-all of the Church.

Eames foresaw a future, beyond the
ordination of women, where "flying bishops" and other oversight would
be necessary but with hard-headed realism added that this "necessary and
strictly extraordinary anomaly" was preferable to schism and the breakup of
the Church.

Philip Hacking adds the essential rider
that all Reform thinking is done in the context of evangelism, ensuring that
Gospel ministry is propagated both now and in the future. He notes that the
whole concept of alternative episcopal oversight is hedged with sundry
qualifications and "is almost certainly in the distance and not a priority
concern of Reform."

Many members of the group are happy,
the chairman says, about the orthodoxy of their bishop, but he regrets there are
a number of bishops who do not fall into this category and it is with them in
mind that the proposals have been formulated.

The Council statement sees the November
celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in
Southwark Cathedral marking a break with biblical and traditional sexual
morality.

"This was a blasphemy and has made
the evangelisation of the nation harder through the Church of England. Along
with other serious issues of faith and morality this has led to an increasing
loss of confidence in some of the bishops. Our national conference mandated us
to secure the reform of the episcopate and this also relates to the recruitment
and training of men for the ministry since in our tradition bishops are involved
in selection, training and deployment," the statement explains. It then
goes on to lay out strategies to secure episcopal oversight which will be seen
to hold to historic biblical faith and morality:

* the employment where necessary,
desirable and possible, of retired or other godly bishops in good standing with
the Church.

* the employment where necessary,
desirable and possible, of the PEVs (flying actual bishops) already consecrated
or a future evangelical PEV, as already requested.

* the election and consecration, after
due process, of bishops from the Reform constituency who can be employed where
necessary and desirable.

Other important plans in the statement
envisage the launch of a Reform newspaper, the setting up of trust funds for
Gospel work and especially capital projects and the monitoring of Christian
youth work.

The statement concludes that in the
light of modern liturgical developments, mission statements and some recent
theological writings, Reform must proclaim the historic Gospel as outlined in
the group's Covenant and follow St Paul's model of entrusting the Gospel
"to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others", with the
conviction that men and women are more important than Institutions.

While the media noticed the possibility
of Reform consecrating its own bishops, it missed the hidden agenda of
internationalising the search for help and support from orthodox, believing
bishops throughout the Anglican Communion, This programme has special relevance
in the light of the Lambeth Conference next year because there is speculation
already that bishops from the two-thirds world will revolt against the liberal
agenda of the American Episcopal Church, now adopted by a vocal minority in the
Church of England.

Readers of Mr Hacking's letter will be
aware that he has to spend considerable time holding together the diverse range
of opinion within the Reform Council when it comes to formulating action. Sadly,
members not present when the statement was hammered out rushed to comment in the
media without consulting Mr Hacking first. He mildly responds that these members
agree on the goals but have question marks about strategy. However, it would
seem to be wise to mark all Council documents from now on with an embargo
restriction!